Rollable exercising device with selectively operable braking means



United States Patent 3,134,590 ROLLABLE EXERCHSING DEVICE WITH SELEC-TIVELY OPERAELE BRAKING MEANS Morrison A. Young, 315 E. Sunset Drive,Whittier, Calif. Filed May 12, 1961, Ser. No. 109,540 8 Claims. (Cl.272--57) This invention relates generally to exercising devices andrelates more particularly to exercising devices for body building in thehome, or the like.

Regular exercising is very valuable in promoting health and grace,increasing strength and in improving posture. However, most people feelthey do not have the time and/or facilities to engage in regularexercises.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide anexercising device or means for body building.

It is another object of the invention to provide an exercising device ofthis character that is very effective in developing the users physicalhealth, strength and grace, and in improving posture.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device or meansof this character that need be used only a few minutes a day to keep fitand build up the body.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this characterthat may be used in the privacy of the home so that it is unnecessary totake off time to go to a gymnasium, or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of thischaracter that is simple in construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this characterthat is efiiective for the purpose for which it is intended.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter having certain safety features which will prevent the userfrom strain, particularly those just beginning a program of bodybuilding.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter having such safety means which will limit the amount ofmovement of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this characterthat is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are furthersufficiently referred to in connection with the following detaileddescription of the accompanying drawings, which represent certainembodiments. After considering these examples, skilled persons willunderstand that many variations may be made Without departing from theprinciples disclosed, and I contemplate the empolyment of anystructures, arrangements, or modes of operation that are properly withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of an exercising device embodying thepresent invention;

PEG. 2 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of said device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative arrangement.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown anarrangement having a pair of wheels iii, which may be of any suitablematerial but Which are shown of being of relatively hard molded rubber.Each wheel is provided with an axial, cylindrical recess 12 in one side,said recess not extending through the wheel. The recesses are adapted tosnugly receive therein end portions 14 of vices.

3,134,590 Patented May 26, 1964 an axle 16 which may be of any suitablematerial such as, for example, wood or the like.

Each recess 12 is provided with an annular internal bead 13 which isreceived in an annular, external groove 24] in the end portion 14received in the respective recess 12. This arrangement aids in securingthe Wheels 10 on the axle 16. In order to further secure the wheels onthe axle a suitable adhesive is used for binding the walls of the recess12 to the end portion 14. Thus the wheels will rotate with the axle.Other suitable means may, of course, be used to secure the wheels on theaxles, one such alternative means being a pin, not shown.

A handle 22 is disposed on the axle, said axle being tubular and ofsuitable flexible material. One such material that may be used is aplastic such as vinyl.

Handle 22 has end portions 24 having an internal diameter such as tosnugly engage the parts of the axle disposed therein, but it is to beunderstood that the axle and handle have rotation relative to eachother.

Between the end portions 24 the handle bulges somewhat and the bulgedportion is provided with internal, longitudinally extending ribs 26having their free edges engaging the surface of the axle portiondisposed Within the bulging portion of the handle, as best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. Externally, the bulging portion of the handle haslongitudinally extending grooves 28 which are disposed over the ribs 26,as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The handle 22 is held against longitudinal movement by the wheels 10,since the ends of the handle 22 abut against the adjacent inner sideportions of said wheels.

The device may be used in various ways for developing and strengtheningvarious parts of the body. For example, in using the device fordevelopment of the shoulders, back and stomach, the user kneels and,with one of the devices in each hand, rolls the devices forward on thefloor.

A person just beginning the exercises must be careful not to extendhimself or herself to too great an extent so as to prevent strain of themuscles involved. Normally, in using these devices the handles are notgripped tightly, although they are gripped firmly. Initially thedistance the initiate should be extended is determined and when the userhas extended himself or herself the predetermined distance the handlesare squeezed so as to compress the bulging portion and cause the ribs 26to engage the axle with sufficient frictional force to act as a brakeand stop further rolling movement of the device or de- The user thenreverses the movement of the devices by returning to the initialposition.

With development of the muscles the user may extend himself or herself agreater amount until he or she can go to the fully extended position.

Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown an alternative arrangement whereinthe distance the device is rolled is automatically controlled so as tostop when the prede termined distance has been covered.

In the alternative arrangement shown in FIG. 4 there is an axle 16ahaving end portions 14a provided with an external annular groove 20a.The end portions 14a of the axle 16a are received in recesses 12a ofrespective wheels 10a, each recess 12a having an annular internal bead18a disposed in groove 2% of the end portion 14a received in said recess12a. The end portions 14a are further secured in the recesses 12a by asuitable adhesive or by a pin or the like.

Operably disposed on the axle 16a is a sleeve 25 of suitable materialsuch as metal, for example. It is to be understood, of course, that thesleeve 25 may be of other suitable material, such as plastic, forexample.

Sleeve 25 has an internal diameter larger than the external diameter ofthe axle 16a and has end portions a 28 rotatably disposed in acounterbore portion 30 of the recess 12a. It is to be noted that theexternal diameter of the sleeve is smaller than the coun-terbore portion30, so that when the users weight is on the sleeve or handle 25 theupper portion of the internal wall of the handle 25 will rest on theupper portion of the axle 16a to thereby support the weight of the user.Between the ends of the sleeve 25 and the inner ends of the counterboresthere is a lubricant seal 31.

Lubrication is provided between the axle 16a and the sleeve 25. Thelubrication means comprises a bore 36 leading from a recess 38 at oneend of the axle 16a to an external groove 40 in said axle 1601. Groove40 is a spirial groove, the ends of which fall short of the ends of theaxle, as best shown in FIG. 4. Wheel 10 on the end of the axle 16a,having the recess 33, is provided with a bore 42 for reception of atubular lubricant fitting 44a, the inner end of said lubricant fittingbeing received in the recess 38 in the adjacent end of the axle 16a.Lubricant forced into the fitting 44 passes into the bore 36 and thenceinto the spiral groove 40. The lubricant passes outwardly through thegroove 40 and is restricted from further outward movement by the closerfit between the ungrooved outer end portions of the axle and theadjacent portions of the sleeve 25, although it is to be understood thatsome lubricant will pass on outwardly, but will be prevented fromescaping by the sealing washer 31.

Automatic braking means is provided and comprises an externally threadedbrake sleeve 44 secured on the handle 25 adjacent one end thereof. Thebrake sleeve 44 is secured by any suitable means such as a press fit,brazing, soldering, or the like. There is a brake member 46 which has aninternally threaded axial bore, said brake member 46 being threadablydisposed on the brake sleeve 44. Member 46 has an annular flange 48 witha free outer edge 50 which conforms to the shape of the adjacent portionof the wheel 10a. Means are provided for causing the brake member 46 torotate with the wheel 10a, such means comprising pins 52 which aredisposed in openings 54 provided therefor in the wheel 10. The pins 52extend inwardly from the inner side of the Wheel 1011 and are slidablyreceived in radial stops or openings 56 provided therefor in the brakemember 46, said openings or slots being arranged so that the pins willnot bind in said openings or slots should be sleeve or handle 25 beslightly off center relative to the axis of axle 16a when the device isused.

When the handle 25 is held and the device moved over a surface so thatthe wheel 10a rotates, the brake member 46 will rotate with the wheeland will be screwed toward or away from said wheel, depending on thedirection of movement of the device. When the surface 50 of the brakemember 46 engages the wheel 10a, it will prevent further relativerotation between the handle 25 and the wheel 10a, thereby stoppingmovement of the device.

When its is desired to use the device, or a pair of them, the user, withthe brake member 46 against the adjacent Wheel, places said device ordevices the desired distance ahead of him and then rolls the device ordevices toward him. The movement toward the user causes the brake member46 to move away from the adjacent wheel. Now, when the user moves thedevice or devices forwardly, the brake member 46 will move toward thewheel and when the device or devices have reached the position fromwhich they were rolled toward the operator or user, the brake member 46will engage the adjacent wheel and automatically stop further forwardmovement. Thus the user is automatically prevented from strains whichotherwise might cause unusual soreness or even undue stretching ofmuscles.

Under some circumstances it may be desirable to render the brake meansinoperative. This may be elfected by pushing the pins 52 outwardly so asthey do not engage the brake member 46. It is to be noted that thelength of the pins is such that said pins may be pushed into the wheeland not project from either end of the openings 54. When it is desiredto reactivate the brake an instrument of suitable size is inserted intoopenings 54 and the pins pushed inwardly so they will project from theinner side of the wheel and into the openings 56 of the brake member.

The invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understoodfrom the foregoing description and it will be apparent that variouschanges may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of theparts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the embodimentshereinbefore described being merely for purposes of illustration.

Iclaim:

1. In an exercising device: an axle; a somewhat resilient wheel for eachend of the axle, each wheel having a cylindrical, axial recess extendinginwardly from one side, said recess being closed at the inner endthereof, said recesses having enlarged outer end portions, respectiveend portions of the axle being received in said recesses; means securingsaid axle end portions in said recesses; and a tubular sleeve on saidaxle, said sleeve having end portions extending into the respectiveenlarged portions of said recesses, the internal diameter of the sleevebeing slightly greater than the external diameter of the axle and theinternal diameter of the respective enlarged portions of said recessesbeing greater than the external diameter of said sleeve an amountgreater than the difference between the external diameter of the axleand the internal diameter of the sleeve, so that said sleeve may ride onsaid axle without riding on the inner annular walls of said enlargedportions of said recesses.

2. In an exercising device: an axle; a wheel for each end of the axle,each wheel having a cylindrical, axial recess extending inwardly fromone side, said recess being closed at its inner end and having anenlarged outer end portion, respective end portions of the axle beingreceived in said recesses of said wheels; means securing said axle endportions in said recesses; and a tubular sleeve on said axle, saidsleeve having end portions extending into the respective enlargedportions of said recesses, the internal diameter of the sleeve beinggreater than the external diameter of the axle and the internal diameterof the enlarged portions of said recesses being sufficiently greaterthan the external diameter of said sleeve so that said sleeve issupported by said axle without riding on the inner annular walls of saidenlarged portions of said recesses.

3. In an exercising device: an axle; a somewhat resilient wheel for eachend of the axle, each wheel having a cylindrical, axial recess extendinginwardly from one side, said recess being closed at the inner endthereof, said recesses having enlarged outer end portions, respectiveend portions of the axle being received in said recesses; means securingsaid axle end portions in said recesses; a tubular sleeve on said axle,said sleeve having end portions extending into the respective enlargedportions of said recesses, the internal diameter of the sleeve beingslightly greater than the external diameter of the axle and the internaldiameter of the respective enlarged portions of said recesses beinggreater than the external diameter of said sleeve an amount greater thanthe difference between the external diameter of the axle and theinternal diameter of the sleeve, so that said sleeve may ride on saidaxle without riding on the inner annular walls of said enlarged portionsof said recesses; and brake means for holding the axle and sleeveagainst rotation relative to each other.

4. In a rollable exercising device: a cylindrical axle; a wheel securedto each end of the axle and held against rotation relative to said axle;and a tubular resilient sleeve on said axle, said sleeve havinginternal, longitudinally extending peripherally spaced ribs, the freeinner edges of which slide on the surface of said axle when the sleeveis normally held for rolling the device, said ribs frictionally engagingthe axle and stopping rotation of the axle and sleeve relative to eachother when said sleeve is squeezed.

5. In an exercising device adapted to be rolled over a supportingsurface: an axle; a wheel secured to each end of the axle; a tubularhandle on said axle, said handle and axle being rotatable relative toeach other; and a brake comprising an externally threaded sleeve securedagainst rotation on said tubular handle and adjacent to but spaced fromone wheel; a movable brake disc threadably mounted on said threadedsleeve; and connecting means interconnecting said brake disc andadjacent wheel whereby said wheel and brake disc rotate together, saidmeans permitting said brake disc to move toward and away from saidadjacent wheel when there is relative rotation of said wheel and thehandle.

6. The invention defined by claim 5, wherein said connecting means maybe actuated to a position whereat said adjacent wheel and brake disc aredisconnected from each other.

7. The invention defined by claim 5, wherein said adjacent wheel has apair of openings therein parallel to the axis of the wheel anddiametrically arranged, and

the brake disc has corresponding radial slots therein, and there arepins in the openings in said wheel and in said slots whereby there issimultaneous rotation of the wheel and brake disc, said pins beingmovable into the openings in the wheel to positions whereat they are outof the slots, said openings, slots and pins constituting the saidconnecting means.

8. The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the axle has an externalspiral lubricant groove and a lubricant passage from one end connectedto said groove; a lubricant fixture in the wheel at said one endconnected to the adjacent end of said passage so that lubricant cannotenter the recess in which said one end of the axle is received; andlubricant seals at the respective ends of the tubular sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,119,169 Kepple Dec. 1, 1914 2,821,394 Barbeau Jan. 28, 1958 FDREIGNPATENTS 5,313 Great Britain of 1905

2. IN AN EXERCISING DEVICE: AN AXLE; A WHEEL FOR EACH END OF THE AXLE,EACH WHEEL HAVING A CYLINDRICAL, AXIAL RECESS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROMONE SIDE, SAID RECESS BEING CLOSED AT ITS INNER END AND HAVING ANENLARGED OUTER END PORTION, RESPECTIVE END PORTIONS OF THE AXLE BEINGRECEIVED IN SAID RECESSES OF SAID WHEELS; MEANS SECURING SAID AXLE ENDPORTIONS IN SAID RECESSES; AND A TUBULAR SLEEVE ON SAID AXLE, SAIDSLEEVE HAVING END PORTIONS EXTENDING INTO THE RESPECTIVE ENLARGEDPORTIONS OF SAID RECESSES, THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE SLEEVE BEINGGREATER THAN THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE AXLE AND THE INTERNAL DIAMETEROF THE ENLARGED PORTIONS OF SAID RECESSES BEING SUFFICIENTLY GREATERTHAN THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID SLEEVE SO THAT SAID SLEEVE ISSUPPORTED BY SAID AXLE WITHOUT RIDING ON THE INNER ANNULAR WALLS OF SAIDENLARGED PORTIONS OF SAID RECESSES.